For weeks, we’ve heard Stephen Curry is ‘dying’ to get back to the court. However, every potential comeback was pushed ahead, totaling 25 missed games since January 30. The biggest progress in Curry’s recovery from runner’s knee was his 5vs5 scrimmage with the team on Tuesday’s practice. But before we get our hopes up, he lowered the expectations for a return in the final stretch of the regular season.

After a scrimmage with the team, Steve Kerr teased Curry’s potential return for Sunday’s game against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. This assessment comes after just one practice, during which Curry told ESPN’s Anthony Slater that it “Felt great.”

“I’m checking the boxes,” he added about the methodical approach they’re taking. However, the Warriors’ caution has rubbed off on Curry. “But with this, it’s always unpredictable because I don’t know how the knee will respond because it hasn’t responded well in the past attempts to get to this five-on-five level.”

Curry risks aggravating his knee if he rushes in. The Warriors have already dealt with a similar situation when Moses Moody’s return went sideways in the ugliest fashion. Instead, they’re relying on Curry’s bench presence.

He’s traveled with the team, done shootarounds, and stayed on the bench in plainclothes. Kerr had hinted they wanted to bring him back during the road trip last week but as Curry confirmed, he still needed to do more to give the team any confidence. Instead, he’s shown optimism with no intention to jinx it.

“I’m right where I need to be for right now and I’m hoping that it continues until the weekend.”

It suggests he might spend the rest of the week ramping up his practices with his teammates. If it’s enough to convince the team’s director of sports medicine, Rick Celebrini, then #30 might (fingers crossed) make a huge comeback on Sunday.

Risks run high for Stephen Curry’s potential return

Without Stephen Curry, the Warriors are 9-16 and barely holding on to the 10th seed that keeps them in Play-In contention. Despite the dire situation, the Warriors are not rushing their star point guard.

Runner’s knee, or patellofemoral pain syndrome, is a significant risk. Sports medicine experts have detailed the risks of aggravating it if recovery is rushed. Some claim that complete recovery could take anywhere from 8 weeks to 6 months.

Curry has gone over the eight-week mark. In that time, the Warriors’ rotation has had to adjust without him. Kerr bleakly said last week they’re “running out of games” in the regular season to give Steph the conditioning of regular NBA games. By his reckoning, it would be unideal to put Curry directly into the play-in tournament. Only Draymond Green indicated that Curry’s return is inevitable. 

What Steph got today was still a “light practice,” Kerr described. “Gotta see how [his body] responds to the scrimmage and we’ll take it from there,” Kerr said after Tuesday’s practice. But it’s the best they have right now. With only seven games remaining in the regular season, the team is desperate to give Curry the runway to find his rhythm.